In this podcast, we sit down with Mrs. Robb to discuss Grit and Growth Mindset, topics she presented to the faculty on professional day this year. She gives further examples of how she deploys these strategies in her classroom.

Grit & Growth Mindset

Thanks to Powhatan’s commitment to continuing education and robust professional development funds, Mrs. Robb was fortunate to be able to attend the first ever Festival of Positive Education in Dallas this past July.

“The conference was sponsored by IPEN, the International Positive Education Network, which is an organization of researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers from around the world that promotes an ‘academics + character & well being’ approach to education,” says Mrs. Robb. “The basic idea is that if these positive attributes – grit and growth mindset – are in place, then students will flourish.”

In the podcast above you will also learn one of the strongest words used to change your mindset:

“Yet.”

Excerpt from the podcast:“A way for students to change their mindsets is by developing what Dr. Carol Dweck has termed the growth mindset. According to Dr. Dweck, people with a growth mindset believe that their ability and brain can grow with effort…and that failure is not seen as a permanent condition but rather one from which to grow. A simple but powerful way teachers can help students to internalize this is using the “power of yet.” So, teachers modeling this for students is key: “I can’t do factorization…yet.” With our eighth graders, “I haven’t memorized Shakespeare…yet – or I’m not good at public speaking…yet.” Really, this is the core of what teachers do for students – help them learn, do, and achieve what they haven’t before…changing the “can’t do” to “can’t do yet” to “can do.” Teachers also help reinforce this by using process praise rather than person or achievement praise. Teachers will tell students: “You worked hard, you studied well, you communicated effectively, you showed leadership skills” versus “You are a rock star! Or “Great job on that A!” Powhatan Blues are an excellent example of process praise since they recognize exemplary student behaviors rather than achievement.”

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